Frequent questions

What’s the difference between Bilbo Books and other self-publishing companies?We’re the only publishers you will ever see face-to-face. We wish that was an exaggeration, but it’s just the way it is. The publishing industry is in flux. The old model, large New York publishing houses only put out books by already-known authors who will make them money. The other self-publishing outfits operate via the Internet. If you’re lucky, you may get an occasional phone call. We meet you in person. “Personalize the Process” is not just our philosophy. It’s our way of doing business. Why are you so expensive? The short answer is that we work harder than any other publishers. With our focus on “book shepherding,” we help authors through every step of both the writing and the publishing process. No other publisher that we know of does this. We are an author-directed publishing house. As writers ourselves, we understand how difficult and personal the writing process is. We know that no two books undergo creation in the same way. Which package should I choose?You should choose the package that best provides you with what you want to achieve. Okay, that’s a pretty obvious answer, but it’s still true. If you want to collect your childhood memories and immortalize them in book form for future generations yet unborn, we can help. If you want to theorize about the origins of the cosmos, the three-toed sloth, or Appalachian banjo music, and you want to reach a specialized audience, we can help. Even if you just need some help filling in the blanks of your family tree, we can help. How long should I expect this to take?We wish that we could name a precise number of days, hours and minutes. We cannot. Books take a long time. They should. If you want something done quickly, write a blog. If you want to craft a book that tells your life story, lays out in detail your personal philosophy, or entertains and informs children, and you are willing to put in the work to create the best book you can, Bilbo Books is the publishing company for you.